Oconee County high school janitor Timothy Burnette arrested

Jan 12, 2018 - 16:20
Jan 30, 2026 - 14:55
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Oconee County high school janitor Timothy Burnette arrested
Timothy Brian Burnette

OCONEE COUNTY, Ga. - An Oconee County High School custodian is behind bars and charged with unlawful surveillance.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies said a female student found Timothy Brian Buette's phone recording video in the girl's locker room Wednesday. That student told the principal, who immediately contacted the sheriff's office.

"They were there within just a matter of minutes, quickly interviewed the suspect, and placed him under arrest," said Chief Deputy Lee Weems of the Oconee County Sheriff's Office. 

Weems said they quickly got the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI involved. They searched Buette's home. If they find anything there or lea that videos like the one taken in the girl's locker room were shared, Buette will face federal charges.

School officials sent out an email to parents Thursday explaining what happened. In the email, they state Buette was terminated. The sheriff's office said Buette does not have any prior criminal convictions.

Jasmine Baker is a 15-year-old who attends OCHS. She said most people found out about what happened Thursday at school.

"We were all like ‘Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What just happened?’ Everyone really was just disgusted," said Baker.

Baker said she was happy with the way things were handled by the school and law enforcement. But, she and many other people in the community said they were shocked that something like this could happen in Oconee County.

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Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.